New Delhi, Jan 21 (FN Bureau) Odisha Minister of Industries, MSME Pratap Keshari Deb on Saturday invited the industry leaders to invest in Odisha, the emerging Industrial hub of India. Addressing the Odisha Investors meet organised by the Odisha government, in collaboration with the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) the Minister said Under the leadership of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and the pro-industry approach of the government, the state is becoming a major industrial hub and a destination of choice for investors across the country.
Many marquee companies like IOCL, IFFCO, Aditya Birla Fashion, Jockey, Parle Agro, Britannia, and ITC, have set up large manufacturing and service units in the state, attracted by the availability of raw materials, trained and skilled manpower and low of cost of doing business in the state. He said the Tourism Industry is going to expand manifolds and invited businesses to establish Hotels, Resorts, Hospitality Facilities and other Infrastructure at tourist locations across Odisha. The food-processing sector is also a focus sector for our state. In terms of logistics and connectivity, with a 480-km long coastline, and 3 large ports at Paradeep, Gopalpur and Dhamra, Odisha is connected to the global shipping lanes and is the gateway to new markets in South and East Asia. Odisha is also a power-surplus state and has an abundance of water resources. At least 320 delegates from Kolkata responded and around 70 closed-door (G2B) meetings were held at the meet with investment intent in Odisha.
Odisha, Chief Secretary Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said the Make in Odisha conclave organised by the state government from November 30 to December 4 last was attended by more than 18,000 industry delegates and attracted investments worth more than Rs. 10 lakh crore from across the country. The state, with continuous support from its industry partners, has been able to build a robust industrial infrastructure and a flourishing industry setup. The state is taking further steps for value addition in these sectors. One such initiative is the “Skilled in Odisha” program, which has become a brand in itself. The state is looking at broad-basing the industrial presence and driving sustainability of the industrial landscape. As many as 20 sectors have been identified under Priority and Thrust Sector Categories in the IPR 2022, and the state is ready to host and accommodate all futuristic industrial establishments. The government, he said is also taking pioneering policy measures for promoting Green Industrial Practices and Decarbonization of the Manufacturing processes by polluting industries.